Generator fume kills family of four in Kogi

Tragedy occurred in Obajana area of Kogi State when the decomposing bodies of four persons suspected to have inhaled fumes from a generating set was discovered yesterday.

The bodies of a man, identified as Mr. John Oluwasegun Ayodele, 35, his wife, 30 and two children, aged four years and three months respectively, were found in their building. The late Ayodele was reportedly last seen on Friday July 28, 2017.

His neighbours, worried over the continued stay indoors of the family till Saturday evening made several calls on Sunday to his mobile phone, which were not answered.

But following a heavy stench oozing from his house, his cousin, Chief Richard Asaje, said he was contacted by neighbours and decided to check on him at home. The door was forced open and they discovered the lifeless bodies of the four persons, after policemen were alerted to the development.

Asaje explained that fumes from a generating set were suspected to be the cause of the death, following the discovery of a generating set inside the building.

According to him, “the incident happened on Saturday. It should be around 12midnight on Saturday. He put a generator inside his toilet and locked the door. The house is a concrete building and it was discovered that he locked the window.

“Unfortunately, we never knew something had happened the second day; we had to force the door open following the stench emanating from the house.”In another development, the Police Command in Akwa Ibom State yesterday confirmed the killing of a mobile police officer by armed robbers in the early hours of Tuesday in the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chukwu Ikechukwu, who confirmed the incident, said: “It is unfortunate that we lost one of our men today to armed robbers.”

Ikechukwu said the police officer was shot dead by armed robbers who swooped on a van carrying expatriate construction workers in Uyo. He, however, said details of his death were still unclear.

“I cannot tell you the identity of the policeman because I am yet to get the details. I promise to explain the details and circumstances surrounding his death as soon as I am fully briefed,” the police spokesperson said.

An eyewitness, who claimed anonymity, said armed robbers on Tuesday pounced on a van carrying expatriate construction workers in Uyo and shot dead a mobile policeman.

He said the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday along Mbierebe junction close to the Goodluck Jonathan Boulevard.“They accosted the Hilux van and instantly shot and killed the police orderly guarding the expatriates. They also carted away huge sums of money from the vehicle before speeding off firing gunshots in the air to scare away people,” he said.He, however, said that the identity of the construction firm could not be immediately ascertained.